Flights to Johannesburg (JNB)

Known as the City of Gold, Johannesburg is a diverse hotbed of history and culture, all within striking distance of pristine natural beauty.

Much of the city is smothered by greenery, with over 10 million trees punctuating its streets. While a key economic hub, Johannesburg is peppered with trendy art galleries and eateries that showcase its vibrant arts and culture scene. Sample jazz music in the characterful suburb of Newtown, wander the terraced ponds of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens or browse designer brands in the Carlton Centre’s shopping mall, once the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere.

Top-level sport is integral to Johannesburg’s culture. Watch Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates, two immensely popular football teams, or see the leading rugby union team Emirates Lions in action at the iconic Emirates Airline Park stadium.

Aside from its gold mining heritage, Johannesburg is awash with insights into more of the nation’s recent history. Visit the Apartheid Museum for a profound look at 20th century South Africa, or tour the equally moving Constitution Hill, once a notorious prison. Soweto is another significant location where you’ll now find powerful street art – including two decommissioned cooling towers decorated with vivid murals. Nelson Mandela’s former family home is also in Soweto, now a museum housing an array of fascinating artefacts that detail his life.

Just south of Johannesburg, the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is a vast stretch of open grasslands and hills that are teeming with animals and indigenous plants. Spot hundreds of bird species, zebras and wildebeest as you trek through a serene natural landscape. To the north west of Johannesburg, you can take a thrilling drive through Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, where rhinos, lions, cheetahs and hippos roam freely.

The Bothongo reserve sits within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the largest known concentration of human ancestral remains was found. See these fascinating fossils, dating back more than two million years, as you embark on an evolutionary journey in a visitors' centre designed to resemble an ancient burial mound.

South African cuisine is renowned around the world, and Johannesburg is no exception to that rule with its many prestigious restaurants. Try a traditional plate of boerewors, a spiced sausage made from coarsely minced beef and grilled over charcoal, and pap, a deliciously creamy porridge made from maize meal.